The Studio Murder Mystery (1929)

The Studio Murder Mystery (1929)

Philandering actor Richard Hardell is murdered at a movie studio. His jealous wife Blanche, his director Rupert Borka, and a girl he mistreated, Helen MacDonald, all have substantial reasons for having wanted him dead.

Director: Frank Tuttle
Writers: A. Channing Edington (based on magazine serial), Carmen Ballen Edington (based on magazine serial), Frank Tuttle (adaptation and dialogue)
Stars: Neil Hamilton, Doris Hill, Warner Oland

Trivia
One of the earliest of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by MCA ever since.
Quotes
Rupert Borka: No, no, no. That is terrible. Get up.

Richard Hardell: Well, what's the matter?

Rupert Borka: Matter? Well you cannot act. That is all. You do not feel it; you do not think it. Bah!

Richard Hardell: Want me to try again?

Rupert Borka: What for? I told you all week that you cannot act. Then I thought maybe if we came here and rehearsed here alone tonight... but it is useless. Why that dummy has more feeling than you.

Richard Hardell: Ohhh

[throws dummy out of chair and onto floor]

Richard Hardell: Now look here, Borka. Why don't you play ball? You agreed to give this part to the winner of that newspaper contest. Now didn't you?

Rupert Borka: Yes.

Richard Hardell: Yes.

Rupert Borka: Like a fool!

Richard Hardell: Oh, well you just say that because the winner was me and you've always thought I was just a rich man to hang around moving picture people.

Rupert Borka: And you are!

Richard Hardell: No, I'm not either. I've always really wanted to act. And if you weren't the director, old boy I'd be making good right now.

Rupert Borka: You are crazy. You cannot act and you will never learn to act.

Connections
References The Benson Murder Case (1930)
Soundtracks
Bridal Chorus
from "Lohengrin" (uncredited)
Written by Richard Wagner
Heard at the end of the film